[BUG] Claude Code process exited with code 127
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
- [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
- [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code
What's Wrong?
I'm setting up Claude desktop on a new MackBook Air (specs below) and have no issues with Chat, but Cowork and Code will not run, regardless of everything being installed correctly. I did troubleshooting in Chat extensively and it finally recommended a bug be filed.
Any command in Cowork shows "Claude Code process exited with code 127"
Code also incorrectly reports "binary doesn't match architecture" despite both being ARM64
macOS Tahoe 26.4, Apple Silicon
Node.js v24.15.0 via nvm, ARM64
Claude Code 2.1.133, ARM64 binary
PATH correctly set via launchctl
/Users/joewheeler/.nvm/versions/node/v24.15.0/bin:/Users/joewheeler/.nvm/versions/node/v24.15.0/bin:/usr/local/bin:/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin:/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin:/opt/pkg/env/active/bin:/opt/pmk/env/global/bin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin
What Should Happen?
Claude Cowork and Code should accept commands and they are not.
Error Messages/Logs
Claude Code process exited with code 127
The Claude Code binary doesn't match this computer's architecture. Reinstall Claude Desktop for your platform.
Claude Code process exited with code 127Steps to Reproduce
Install Claude desktop app on a new MacBook Air (Silicon) and try to use Cowork and Code.
macOS Tahoe 26.4, Apple Silicon
Node.js v24.15.0 via nvm, ARM64
Claude Code 2.1.133, ARM64 binary
Claude Model
Not sure / Multiple models
Is this a regression?
No, this never worked
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
Claude Code 2.1.133, ARM64 binary
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
macOS
Terminal/Shell
Terminal.app (macOS)
Additional Information
<img width="1255" height="131" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0935956f-5ef5-48c0-9a42-a4c09e0bc6a0" />
<img width="564" height="214" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/931a6bf8-e67c-4ff0-83eb-fa86ff6c983f" />
4 Comments
Found 3 possible duplicate issues:
This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
The bug I reported is not a duplicate of any of the three already reported issues above. Please do not close.
I resolved this after working with Chat for a while:
Root Cause:
Cowork cannot find the claude binary when Node.js is installed via nvm, because nvm installs to a user-level path (~/.nvm/...) that macOS desktop apps don't have access to, even if launchctl is used to set the PATH.
Solution:
Create symlinks from the nvm-managed binaries to /usr/local/bin, which is a standard system location accessible to all macOS desktop apps:
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/bin
sudo ln -sf ~/.nvm/versions/node/$(node --version)/bin/claude /usr/local/bin/claude
sudo ln -sf ~/.nvm/versions/node/$(node --version)/bin/node /usr/local/bin/node
No restart required after running these commands.
Environment:
macOS Tahoe 26.4, Apple Silicon
Node.js v24.15.0 installed via nvm
Claude Code 2.1.138
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.